Someone clue me in on the women's basketball team

I've been persuaded by people on both boards that that Kelsey did indeed miss on Bowe. I understood the rationale at the time, I could see the situation she was in. But no question, it would be nice if Bowe were here instead of in Tennessee (or wherever the hell Vandy is).

HOWEVER, I just don't see that Bowe is the difference between this team being what it is now and being in the middle of the Big Ten. This team was going to be bad for awhile (made worse by having lost its best player and another solid contributor to injury). Stone's last couple of classes were weak; it seems she had given up on even trying to recruit at every position. Thus, the lack of post players. There are just a few of us on the boards who really pay close attention (i.e. go to every home game and even a road game or two year in and year out) and I don't think any of those people are surprised by this team. I've said nothing much changes until year three at the earliest and I still think that's right.

And, the team is not in the position it's in because Kelsey may or may not have pissed off the Wisconsin high school coaches. And its true, someday there may be a player she wants and those relationships might be important. SOMEDAY. But the sad fact is, the state coaches don't have much to offer right now. They likely won't be the difference-maker either. It's actually kind of the other way around: the decline in HS talent in Wisconsin has had a direct bearing on the decline of the program over the past ten years.

So, what to do? It's late and i'm tired so I'll have to take on the topic on another day. But I will say two things: One, Wisconsin gains two good sized posts next year (the Johnson sisters) which should have an immediate positive impact; and Two, what effect might Big Ten expansion (i.e. adding Maryland and Rutgers, but when?) have on women's basketball?

buckygrrl wrote:And, the team is not in the position it's in because Kelsey may or may not have pissed off the Wisconsin high school coaches. And its true, someday there may be a player she wants and those relationships might be important. SOMEDAY. But the sad fact is, the state coaches don't have much to offer right now. They likely won't be the difference-maker either. It's actually kind of the other way around: the decline in HS talent in Wisconsin has had a direct bearing on the decline of the program over the past ten years.

I don't really follow the Women's team nor HS girls except to watch the State Tournament but I'm curious as to why the state is putting out more men's D1 recruits (or at least it seems like it) and turning out some very highly ranked players while the women's side is going in the other direction?

"There's something beautiful, so pure about Wisconsin beating
the snot out of teams by running the ball down their throats"- Matt Hayes, The Sporting News